Writing in a personal capacity to share views, information and resources for teachers, trade unionists and campaigners in London - and beyond!

Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Lewisham - don't let the BNP divide us

It was always inevitable that the BNP would try to build support
on the back of the Woolwich killing. However, rather than
demonstrating in Woolwich on Saturday as it was first thought (and
a UAF anti-racist festival/demo will be going ahead at 12 noon in
General Gordon Square, Woolwich), the BNP have now announced that
they now plan to march (or take cars) away from Woolwich and
converge on the Lewisham Islamic Centre (which is close to
Lewisham Hospital) instead.

In these circumstances, Lewisham trade unionists clearly have a
responsibility to organise a protest to make clear to the BNP that
their racist lies will not be allowed to divide our community -
and also to offer solidarity to the Islamic Centre. The Islamic
Centre has also called on support from a range of organisations
for coordinating a peaceful rally against the BNP on the day of
the march.

Final details have now been confirmed for a unity rally outside the mosque:2 pm outside Lewisham Islamic Centre365 Lewisham High St, by the Shell Garage near the Hospital

The text from the Lewisham NUT leaflet is written below. It can be downloaded from:

The horrific murder of a young soldier in Woolwich has rightly
been met with overwhelming condemnation. However, now the
British National Party (BNP) are trying to use the
understandable outrage at this attack to gain support. On
Saturday afternoon, they are planning to march on the Islamic
Centre in Lewisham. Lewisham has a proud record of standing
united against all those who would divide our community. Join
the protest to show the BNP that the trade unions, residents and
young people of Lewisham are standing united against this
provocative march.

Lewisham National Union of Teachers (NUT) utterly condemns the
killing of the soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich. This was an
appalling tragedy for the victim, his family and friends. Local
residents showed great bravery in intervening to try and assist
him.
However, the racist attacks in the days that followed must also
be condemned. Amongst other attacks, three petrol bombs were
thrown at a mosque in Grimsby and a fried chicken shop was
smashed up in east London. These actions, just like the killing
in Woolwich, are carried out by a tiny number of people who are
totally unrepresentative of most people.
Racist organisations like the BNP and their ilk are trying to
feed off the desperate conditions of poverty and hopelessness
that exist in parts of Breadline Britain. When food banks can't
keep up with demand, when there’s a shortage of decent homes and
school places for our youngsters, then the BNP’s racist lies can
seem to provide easy answers. But BNP hatred provides no way
forward.

In fact their divisive racism can only set back the
struggle against poverty. Racism weakens the force in society
that has the potential to defeat government cuts - the power
that comes from a united struggle of working people, of all
backgrounds. That’s why the NUT, along with other trade unions,
organises to oppose the BNP but also to build united action to
oppose privatisation and cuts to schools, hospitals and other
public services.
Lewisham has a proud tradition of standing up to fascism and
racism. We need to show that unity again this Saturday. As the
Lewisham Islamic Centre has rightly said, “the purpose of the
march to conclude in our Borough and outside our Centre is to
create discord, division and disunity”. We must not let the BNP succeed in building support out of
this tragedy. Let’s stand together and show the BNP that we
will not let racism - or terrorism - divide our community.

Martin Powell-Davies

* Brought up as a socialist by parents who hungered for what is right * One adopted grandfather left me a double-barrelled name, the other his name on a 1926 General Strike black-list * Joined the Labour Party as a teenager, left it when it abandoned the values and traditions of so many who built it in the past * Given a comprehensive education at St.Andrew's, Leatherhead * First-class degree from King's College, Cambridge, for those who like that kind of thing * Secondary science teacher in London 1986-2015 * Lewisham NUT Secretary 1993-2015, organiser of many campaigns to defend teachers and education * Living in Sydenham since 1997, father of four who were all so well-supported by Sedgehill School * Member of the NUT National Executive 2010-15 * NUT London Regional Secretary 2016 - * Proud to have been name-checked by Gove for saying that his 'reforms' could make teaching unbearable * Member of the CWI, following its global struggles via http://www.socialistworld.net * Candidate for TUSC in Lewisham West & Penge, 2015 * Member of Penge CC, often a 'Middle Aged Man In Lycra' on Sundays